Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Leaks Reveal New Design Language and Surprising Price Strategy Ahead of February Launch

The next range of Samsung flagships is slowly emerging from the shadows, and it looks like the Galaxy S26 range is already set to be one of the most intriguing Samsung upgrades in a long time. With design shots and pricing information now leaking out ahead of what is expected to be a February 25th launch, we can finally get a better idea of where Samsung is going with the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra.

From case manufacturer listings, tipster shots, and dealer information in Europe, it’s clear that the message here isn’t one of revolution, but of refinement, consistency, and some very interesting pricing choices that might just shake up how consumers think about the Ultra this year.

Galaxy S26 Design Leaks

The latest design pictures, courtesy of tipster Evan Blass, reveal the Galaxy S26 series with UAG protective cases. Although protective case designs may not seem very exciting at first, they are typically based on final designs and, therefore, are one of the most accurate ways to predict the final look of the actual device.

One thing that is immediately apparent from these images is that Samsung is streamlining the entire S26 series.

The most apparent design change comes from the camera design. Samsung is seemingly abandoning the floating camera rings that characterized the last few Galaxy S series. Instead, the S26 series features a pill-shaped camera island on all three devices, giving the entire series a much more cohesive and modern look.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra, in particular, is drifting away from its sharp and boxy persona. The corners are more rounded now, making it more similar to the regular S26 and S26+ in terms of design. This is a clear indication that Samsung is aiming for a cohesive design language across the entire series, rather than having the Ultra be a stark contrast to the rest.

What’s also interesting is that only one camera lens on the Ultra is directly mounted on the rear panel, while the others are housed inside the camera island. Bezels have also been reduced slightly, although it’s difficult to say how much of that is due to case design versus actual design changes.

The design language of the S26 series, in general, appears to be more mature than trendy. It’s all about streamlining the design, rather than following the latest trends.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Pricing Leaks

Design leaks aside, some data from dealers in Sweden, via WinFuture, has shed light on how Samsung might be positioning the Galaxy S26 range and this is where it gets interesting.

The 128GB base model is being completely axed, which means that 256GB will now be the entry-level option for the entire S26 range. This is why prices are going up for most variants, as storage prices keep escalating around the world.

Galaxy S26 Price (Leaked – Sweden)

The Galaxy S26 with 256GB storage starts at SEK 11,990 (approximately ₹1.25 lakh). This is a definite increase over last year’s Galaxy S25, which started at SEK 10,990 for the same storage. The price for storage increments is even steeper this year, with the 512GB variant said to start at SEK 1

,990 (approximately ₹1.46 lakh).

This means that the “cheapest” Galaxy S26 will still be much more expensive than the starting S25.

Galaxy S26+ Price Details

The Galaxy S26+ has a slightly different pricing approach. The 256GB variant is priced at SEK 14,490 (approximately ₹1.56 lakhs), which is the same as the S25+ model from last year. But the 512GB variant sees a hike to SEK 16,990 (approximately ₹1.77 lakhs), and it's evident that Samsung is now charging a premium for the higher storage variants.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Price Comes as a Surprise

The biggest twist comes with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Instead of getting more expensive, the entry-level Ultra actually appears to be cheaper than last year.

• 256GB Ultra: SEK 16,990 (around ₹1.77 lakh)

• 512GB Ultra: SEK 18,990 (around ₹1.98 lakh)

• 1TB Ultra: SEK 22,490 (around ₹2.34 lakh – unchanged)

This is a notable move, especially when memory costs are rising globally. It suggests Samsung is willing to absorb some of the cost increase at the top end to keep the Ultra attractive against rivals like Apple’s Pro Max and upcoming Chinese flagships.

Free Storage Upgrade Offers May Be Phased Out

Another significant change that could affect buyers is that of Samsung ditching the free storage upgrade offer with pre-orders. This has been a common practice with Galaxy launches for a long time, but with storage prices remaining high, Samsung might be taking control of the storage pricing this time around.

This would be a significant change in the launch strategy of Samsung and might make pre-ordering less attractive for some buyers.

Expected Specs and Features of the Galaxy S26 Series

Beyond pricing and design, the Galaxy S26 lineup looks like a polished evolution rather than a dramatic upgrade.

The Galaxy S26 is expected to feature a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, while the S26+ may finally move to a 2K resolution panel, something fans have been asking for.

Other expected features include:

• IP68 water and dust resistance

• Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection

• Native Qi2 wireless charging support

• Familiar but refined camera hardware

• 12GB RAM variants at launch

Performance is expected to vary by region, with Samsung using either the 2nm Exynos 2600 or the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, depending on the market.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Could Be the Most Interesting Model This Year

Although the S26 and S26+ appear to be logical upgrades, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is actually the most appealing option in the bunch. The slightly lower starting cost, increased base storage, improved design, and rumors of a new privacy-centric feature make it more appealing than one would have thought.

It appears that Samsung is banking on the fact that consumers who previously opted for the Plus variant may now opt for the Ultra variant instead and with these leaked prices, they may just be right.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: What We Know So Far

• Expected Launch Date: February 25, 2026 (leaked)

• Expected Price: N/A (India)

• Variant: 12GB RAM

• Status: Upcoming

• Series: Galaxy S26

As the launch date draws near, Samsung will soon find it difficult to hide these secrets. The Galaxy S26 lineup does not shout “revolution,” but it is clear that Samsung is fine-tuning its flagship lineup strategy raising the bar, improving design, and making the Ultra model more attractive than ever before.

For the fans and consumers, the launch event may have more surprises in store.